Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen On August 6, the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command, General Rukomsky, received an order from General Romanovsky, the First Logistics Commander of the Headquarters: to concentrate the Third Cavalry Corps and the Native Cavalry Division in Nevelli - Novosokolniki - Velikiluki region. "Why are you concentrating in this area? You know, aren't these troops all the reserves of the Romanian front?" Lukomski asked in bewilderment. "I don't know, Alexander Sergeyevich. I just conveyed the Supreme Commander's order to you correctly." "When did you receive it?"

"Yesterday. At eleven o'clock at night the Supreme Commander summoned me and ordered me to report this matter to you this morning." Romanovsky tiptoed, walked to the window, and stopped in front of the strategic map of Central Europe that occupied half of the wall of Rukomsky's office, then turned his back to Rukomsky, looked at the map carefully and said : "Ask yourself...he's in his office now." Rukomsky took the papers from the table, pushed aside the sofa chair, and walked with the firm step of all fat old soldiers.At the door, he stepped aside Romanowski, apparently thinking something, and said to himself, "Correct. That's it."

A tall, long-legged colonel unknown to Rukomsky had just emerged from Kornilov's office, made way respectfully for him, and was visibly limping down the corridor , shrugging his injured shoulder comically.Kornilov leaned forward slightly, leaning his palms on the table, and was talking to an elderly officer standing opposite him: "...It should be considered as expected. Do you understand what I mean? Please inform me as soon as you arrive in Pskov. You can go." Kornilov waited for the officer to close the door, and then sat down on the sofa chair in a youthful and elastic posture Come on; he asked as he pushed the other armchair to Rukomsky:

"Have you received my order from Romanovsky to mobilize the Third Army?" "Got it. That's why I'm here. Why did you choose this area as the legion's rallying point?" Lukomsky carefully observed Kornilov's dark face.A mysterious, icy Asian face, with the usual, familiar slanted lines running along the cheeks, from the nose to the hard mouth, which was shaded by a drooping thin mustache.Only the strand of hair that fell to his forehead like a child's bang slightly diluted the grim and stern expression on his face. Kornilov, resting his chin on the palm of his thin little hand, resting his elbow on the table, squinting his bright eyes, and touching Rukomsky's knee with one hand, replied:

"I want to concentrate the cavalry in this area, not to support the northern front, but so that cavalry can be easily thrown on the northern or western fronts if needed. The area selected is, I think, the most suitable Meet this requirement. Why, do you have another opinion? Tell me, okay?" Rukomsky shrugged vaguely. "Fears about the western front are unfounded. It would be better to concentrate the cavalry in the Pskov area." "Pskov?" Kornilov leaned his whole body forward, asked again, frowned, slightly grinned at his dull thin lips, shook his head negatively, and said:

"No! Pskov is not appropriate." Weary and old, Rukomsky put his palms on the armrests of the armchair, carefully weighed his words and said: "Lavr Georgiyevich, I will give the necessary orders immediately, but I have the impression that you have something to say... If it is to send the cavalry to Petrograd or Moscow If you want to mobilize from one side, then the assembly area you choose is very suitable, but if you deploy cavalry like this, the support for the northern front cannot be guaranteed just because of the difficulty of mobilization. If I understand correctly, you do have something to say If not, then I beg you—either let me go back to the front, or tell me exactly what you think. A chief of staff can only remain in his position if he has the full confidence of his chief.”

Kornilov lowered his head and listened intently, but he still had time to look at Lukomsky with his piercing eyes, and a barely perceptible, faint look appeared on his cold face from the excitement. flush.After thinking for a few seconds, he replied: "You are correct. I have some ideas that I have not discussed with you... Please immediately issue an order for the mobilization of cavalry, and quickly invite General Krymov, the commander of the Third Army, to come here after returning from Petrograd Let's talk about this in detail later, Alexander Sergeyevich, please believe me, I don't want to hide anything from you," Kornilov put special emphasis on the last sentence, and then turned quickly Go, answer the knock on the door: "Come in."

Feng Weizin, deputy political commissar of the headquarters, walked in together with a short, gray-bearded general.Rukomsky got up and, as he was going out, heard Kornilov's question to Fon Wizin, and answered angrily: "I don't have time to review General Miller's case right now. What? . . . Yes, I'm going out." After returning from Kornilov's Rukomsky stood by the window for a long time.He stroked his grizzled goatee, and looked thoughtfully at the thick, windswept tops of the chestnut trees and the undulating grass in the garden, glistening in the sun. An hour later, the headquarters of the Third Cavalry Corps received an order from the Chief of Staff of the Supreme Command to prepare for deployment.Krymov, the commander of the regiment who had refused to serve as the commander of the 11th Infantry Corps according to Kornilov's wishes, was also summoned to the base camp by a secret telegram that day.

On August 9, Kornilov set off for Petrograd by special train, under the protection of a Tejin cavalry company. The next day, news of the Supreme Commander's dismissal was widely circulated in the headquarters, and it was even said that he had been arrested, but on the morning of the 11th, Kornilov returned to Mogilev. On his return he immediately invited Rukomsky to his office.After reading the telegrams and military information, he carefully adjusted the neat white cuffs that made his olive-colored thin wrists look more juicy, and touched his collar.These hasty, absent-minded gestures belied his agitation.

"Now we can finish what we didn't finish talking about that day," he said in a low voice. "I would like to go on to the idea that compelled me to transfer the Third Army to Petrograd, and other ideas related to it that I have not yet discussed with you. Do you know that on August 3rd I was in Peter Kerensky and Savinkov reminded me not to dwell too much on important issues of national defence, because, according to them, there were some unreliable figures in the Cabinet. As Supreme Commander-in-Chief , when I report to the government, I can't talk about the battle plan, because I can't guarantee that what I say will not be known to the German command after a few days! Is this still a government? After this, I will still believe it can Save the country?" Kornilov went quickly and resolutely to the door, locked it, turned back, paced excitedly up and down the table, and said: "It is a shame that the country is run by such wretches." Sad, breathless. Indecisive, weak-willed, useless, indecisive, often downright vile--let me say that, it's the same nonsense that guides everything in this 'government' Action. With the zealous participation of people like Chernov and others, the Bolsheviks will get Kerensky out... Alexander Sergeevich, you see Russia is in such a danger I am acting on the principles you are familiar with, and I want to save my country from any new upheavals. The main purpose of my mobilization of the Third Cavalry Corps is to use it in Petrograd at the end of August, and if the Bolsheviks launch To attack, to crush this group of rebels of the motherland thoroughly. I will give the direct leadership of the operation to General Krymov. I am sure that if necessary, he will not hesitate to hang all those fellows from the Soviet of Engineers and Soldiers. Death. The Provisional Government... Well, let's take a look... I don't have any personal goals. Just to save Russia... through fire and water, at any cost!..."

Kornilov stopped suddenly, stood opposite Rukomsky, and asked abruptly: "Only by taking such decisive measures can the future of the country and the army be guaranteed. Do you agree with me? Can you fight with me?" In the end?" Lukomsky touched Kornilov's thin, hot hand and stood up. "I fully agree with you! I will fight to the end. It is necessary to plan carefully, to measure the situation carefully - to act at the right time. Leave it to me, Lavr Georgiyevich." "I have drawn up a plan of action. The details of the operation can be worked out by Colonel Lebedev and Captain Rorenko. Alexander Sergeyevich, you have had enough work. Believe me, we will There is time to discuss everything and, if necessary, make changes accordingly." Life in base camp these days is almost like malaria.Every day, many, many officers in dusty civilian uniforms of protective colors, weathered and sun-baked, came to Mogilev's governor's mansion from various units at the front to volunteer for service; Well-dressed representatives of the Council came to see him; several urgent emissaries were sent from Don Kaledin, the first military commander of the Cossack Don Military District appointed by the government.There have also been some suspicious-looking civilian officials.It is true that there are people who sincerely want to help Kornilov revive the old Russian Empire that collapsed in February, but there are also vultures who have a keen sense of smell, smell the blood of the massacre, and foresee whose powerful Hopeful hands were about to open the veins of the country, and flocked to Mogilev, hoping to grab something.The names of big landowners, gangsters, adventurers, Zavojko who made a fortune by speculation, hardcore royalist Arakin, Dobryansky, etc. are in the base camp, like some people who are closely related to the supreme commander. Like a person, it hangs on people's mouths.At the headquarters and at the headquarters of the army marching on the Don there was a whisper that Kornilov was too trusting, and that he was surrounded by a group of adventurers.But at the same time, it is generally believed in the vast circle of military officers that Kornilov is the banner of Russia's revival.Fanatical restorationists flocked to this banner from all directions. On August 13, Kornilov went to Moscow to attend the State Council. It was a warm, dark day.The whole sky seemed to be cast of pale blue aluminum, and on the horizon was a cloud like wool trimmed with lavender fur.From the clouds to the fields, to the trains running on the rails, to the woods covered with fabulous autumn colors, to the hazy birch trees in the distance like watercolor paintings, to the early autumn earth wearing a widow's plain clothes - the slanting reflection in The pleasant drizzle in the refraction of the rainbow. The train was speeding, leaving the vast plain behind, dragging smoke like a red dress, and by the open window sat a short general in protective uniform and George Cross.He narrowed his dark eyes slightly, and stuck his head out of the window. The steaming raindrops wet his sunburnt face and drooping black mustache mercilessly; A strand of hair blows back.